ARCHITECTURAL FACADE LIGHTING
Choose LED fixtures around the surfaces, lines and details you want to illuminate. CRANE can review your facade drawings, help narrow product families and configurations, and identify the mounting drawings and available optical information needed for selection.
NOVATEK Commercial Complex, Russia — continuous facade lightingSTART WITH THE ARCHITECTURE
Start by deciding whether people should see an illuminated surface, an accented feature or the light source itself. This distinction helps separate wall washing and accent lighting from direct-view lines and pixel patterns.
Use the facade conditions below to identify installation constraints, then compare lighting techniques and product families. The linked projects show how these choices relate to actual buildings.
NOVATEK facade lighting →Jingtian Plaza twin towers →Guojin Building window lighting →
FACADE CONDITIONS
Review the illuminated surface and the surrounding architecture together. Windows, recesses, joints and changes in direction can be as important as the main wall plane.
Narrow floor bands and deep window recesses leave different amounts of fixing space. Establish the width of the surface to be lit and how brackets can follow corners without directing light into occupied windows.
At pedestrian viewing distances, visible sources and strong shadows can dominate small details. Identify the brick texture, eave depth and permitted fixing positions before deciding which features to emphasize.
For glazed towers, first identify solid bands, mullions and approved fixing zones. Glass reflections and views from occupied rooms affect where fixtures can sit; access for cabling and replacement also needs to follow the curtain-wall detail.
Repeated fins and joints provide a framework for visible light lines or points. Check fin dimensions, module joints and the main viewing distances before choosing fixture lengths or pixel spacing.
FACADE LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
Compare the first four approaches by the effect you want to achieve. RGBW is a color and scene-control choice that can accompany compatible fixtures across these approaches, rather than a separate way of distributing light.
Consider wall washing when the aim is a relatively even appearance across a wall or facade band. Distribution, setback and overlap must suit the surface dimensions; check the selected configuration with applicable photometric data or a mock-up.
Consider grazing when brick, stone or another textured finish should stand out. Light close to the surface emphasizes relief, but can also reveal uneven joints or unwanted shadows. Assess a representative material sample before repeating the detail.
Consider flood or accent lighting when selected columns, entrances or roof details should stand out. Match the distribution to the target and mounting distance, then check aiming and shielding to limit spill beyond the feature.
Choose direct-view lines or pixels when the light sources should form the visible pattern. Compare a continuous line with distinct points at the intended viewing distance, then coordinate fixture lengths or point spacing with the facade grid.
Consider RGBW when the brief calls for color scenes and a dedicated white channel. Define everyday and event scenes separately, then confirm compatible fixture configurations, control devices and dimming behavior. RGBW alone does not specify the control protocol.
PROJECT SELECTION CHECKS
Use these checks to turn a visual brief into a practical product discussion.
Identify the material, finish and illuminated area, including the windows and recesses around it.
Record facade heights, available fixing positions and the main close and distant views.
Select distributions for the target surface and check light escaping toward windows, roads and neighboring properties.
Review white or RGBW options against the actual material and the surrounding night-time environment.
Define the required lighting zones, operating scenes and compatible drivers, decoders or controllers.
Coordinate weather exposure, cable routes, connection points and access for cleaning or replacement.
PROJECT SUPPORT
Share the project information you have. CRANE can help narrow product families and configurations, review mounting requirements and identify applicable drawings or available optical information. Confirm any calculations, mock-ups or additional design services separately.
Start with elevations, photographs, dimensions, materials and proposed fixing locations.
Identify the surfaces, lines and focal details that should lead the night-time composition.
Narrow the model and distribution using the target geometry and available mounting space.
Review brackets, cable access, color options and the scene-control requirements together.
Request the applicable drawings and available photometric information, and identify any project calculations or mock-ups needed before confirmation.
Have facade elevations, installation details or reference photographs ready?
Send Facade Project Files →LED PRODUCTS BY APPLICATION
Start with the application below, then compare the available models, optics and mounting drawings on the product page.
Compact wall-washing luminaires suit facade bands, columns and other vertical surfaces where mounting space is limited. Match the distribution and mounting distance to the surface, allowing room for brackets and cables.
Linear luminaires can illuminate repeated curtain-wall and facade details. Fixture length, joints and mounting channels should follow the building geometry.
Compact adjustable floodlights provide selective light for columns, entrances and architectural details. Target size, aiming and shielding guide the choice of optic and mounting position.
Point-source fixtures can define repeated facade grids and programmable visual patterns. Point spacing, supply voltage and control version must match the project layout.
CRANE FACADE LIGHTING PROJECTS
Compare how different building forms lead to different lighting details, mounting arrangements and scene requirements.
Rounded facade corners make fixture aiming and bracket adjustment central to the detail. CRANE supplied LED wall-washing luminaires and adjustable stainless-steel brackets for the building's continuous white lighting bands.
View the NOVATEK Project →
Broad RGBW facade bands and smaller curtain-wall pixels create two distinct lighting scales. The project record describes DMX512/RDM-based operation for regular business lighting and holiday scenes.
View the Nanning Project →
Illuminated window bays form a repeated pattern across the office elevations. The project uses RGBW window-sill lights, making the window reveal the starting point for the lighting detail.
For a new window-bay layout, compare slim-width wall-washer options against the reveal dimensions and fixing space.
Explore HL Slim-Width Wall Washers →View the Guojin Building Project →FACADE LIGHTING FAQ
Share your elevations, facade photographs and preferred lighting effect. Include the installation location, target areas and known color or control requirements so our team can review suitable product configurations with you.
